The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-25
Qlae N;erald and Ne1r5.
PUBLISHED
EVERY THURSDAY AT
NEWBERRY, S. C.
Mr.. Cleveland and the Mug~umps.
Nezc York Star.

Nep York Star.
When Mr.. George William Curtis
delivered his annual address before
the National Reform League last
week his criticisms Of President
Cleveland's course in regasd to civil
service reform were Instantly seized
upon by the Republican press as
proof that the Mugwumps were pack
ing up their baggage preparatory to
return to the Republican camp.
There was little in Mr.. Curtis re-
marks to warrant any such theory,
and the fact that the Republicans
unquestionably hoped that it might
be true was the explanation of their
i'll considered haste. AS we pointed
out then, the most noticeable charac-
teristic of Mr.. Curtis speech was the
confidence that he showed in the
Presidents character, ability and
zeal for the pulic welfare, even while
criticising him for his failure to en-
force the Civil Service laws as Mr..
Curtis and his fellow reformers in
terpret them. To an impartial reader
it was clear that Mugwumps, as rep.
resented by Mr.. Curtis, would sup
port Mr.. Cleveland for President in
preference to any candidate that the
Republicans would be likely to nom-
mate.
An editorial article yesterday in
Harpers Weekly, Of which Mr.. Cur
tis is the responsible editor, shows
how little ground the Republican
journals have had for the "ghoulish
glee" in which they have indulged
during the past week. In speaking
of the action Of the National Reform
League, this article says: 1--WE do
not understand that it imports either
distrust Of the President or regret at
the very general support that he re-
ceived from reformers in 1884. Nor
is it intended, we presume, to intimate
shat as against any other probable
he would not be supported by them
again. We do not know g single
friend of reform who regrets his vote
for Mr.. Cleveland, although there
may be such instances in Maryland
or Indiana
In discussing possible Republican
candidates the Weekly says that Mr.
Sherman certainly never professed
to be q friend of the reformed sys-
TEN. Mr.. Blaine had made some
professions not to be relied upon,
while Mr.. Allison and Mr.. Lincoln
had no particular record upon the
subject. General Hawley's course
had been satisfactory, but Mr.. Curtis
qualities this admission with the
statement that nobody supposes that
in the present condition Of parties
the course of any Republican Presi-
dent would be more satisfactory
upon this subject than that of Presi-
dent Cleveland has been. The Re-
publican leaders would make great
mistake if they took it for granted
that the civil service reformers had
abandoned the President.
There is family resemblance in
all the criticisms of the administra-
ti0n that have appeared in print re-
Gently which it is interesting to note.
Some of the most uncompromising
Democrats have complained because
more of the rascals were not turned
out. Mr.. Curtis believes that this
has been done too generally. Editor
Henry Watterson, whose mind is
too large to be occupied always with
discussing what ought to be done
with rascals, believes that the Presi-
dents policy is not active enough
for the good of the Democratic party.
He wants him to pursue that course
which will warm and stir the Dem
ocratic heart and fill it with the in.
stinct of victory. The conclusion,
however, that all these critics arrive
at is the same, and Mr.. Watterson
voices their sentiments when be says
that he regards the denomination of
Mr.. Cleveland as inevitable.